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Cost of fuel will also be greatly reduced for the use cases within electric range:

- Removing the driver allows for more aerodynamic cab configuration, or no cab at all

- Electric motors are more efficient, particularly in high-torque / low-rpm environment

- Massive & inefficient 18-speed gearbox can be avoided

- Cost of fuel itself (electricity) is much cheaper

I think the bigger savings will come in being able to precisely control stops, starts, and turning, which will both minimize damage to the road surface and lengthen tire life.

ISTR a case where a large open pit mine bought GPS-driven trucks and saved a great deal just from longer tire life (each tire was $20K).

Re: gearbox, I wonder whether an autonomous truck could be paired with a little scouting drone to "look ahead" at things like blind corners or stop-and-go traffic, to allow the truck enough foreknowledge to gear up and down more gradually.

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